HCA Ward 5 debate Oct. 12 last candidate get-together

By Jake Davies - West Carleton Online

October 11, 2022October 11, 2022 wadmin 0 Comments Ottawa Election 2022

CARP – Tomorrow night (Oct. 12) will be the last opportunity to see the six candidates vying to replace outgoing councillor Eli El-Chantiry together in one place, debating West Carleton’s municipal issues.

The Huntley Community Association (HCA) is hosting an all-candidates meeting Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Carp Agricultural Hall (3790 Carp Rd.).

The six remaining candidates met last week (Oct. 5) in Kinburn, and tomorrow’s debate is the last one scheduled before Election Day on Monday, Oct. 24.

The meeting will be moderated by HCA director Allan Joyner. Joyner has moderated several all-candidates meetings, at all three levels of government, over the years. He moderated the HCA’s Ward 5 all-candidates meeting in 2018, one of the extremely rare times West Carleton Online has employed a freelancer.

Top issues from that debate included health infrastructure, police services, public transit and Hydro One versus Ottawa Hydro. It was the last all-candidates meeting El-Chantiry attended as a candidate.

The Oct. 12 debate will be held in a much larger facility compared to the Carp Mess Hall on Craig Side Road, the location in 2018.

This year six candidates, Ian Madill, Sasha Duguay, Stephanie Maghnam, Greg Patacairk, Clarke Kelly and Nagmani Sharma, are vying for the one seat.

Joyner says tomorrow’s debate will give them an opportunity to speak on some of the community’s unique challenges. The HCA has also been accepting questions submitted from the public over the last week or so.

“With a new mayor being elected and major changes in the composition of city council on the way, its very important that Ward 5 elect an effective person to represent our unique village and rural interests,” Joyner told West Carleton Online today (Oct. 11). “This is a great opportunity to hear the candidates answer relevant questions.”

The event will be in-person only – there will be no online feed.

“Since many of our residents are vulnerable to COVID, they are asking those coming to the event to wear masks if possible,” organizers said. “Chairs will be spaced appropriately for this indoor venue. Please do not attend if you are sick. Seating is first come first served and the doors open at 6:30 pm. Donations to offset the cost of staging the debate will be accepted at the door.”

For more information email info@hca-carp.ca.

The doors at the Carp Agricultural Hall open at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12 with the proceedings getting underway at 7 p.m.